Business

‘Nigeria Requires Innovation To Drive Job Creation Agenda’

Published

10 years ago

July 27, 2016

The Minister of Employ
ment and Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, says the country requires innovation that will drive the government’s diversification and job creation agenda.
He said this recently in Lagos during a factory tour of Erisco Foods Ltd in Lagos.
According to him, the innovation and diversification activities of Erisco Foods have increased job creation in the agricultural sector of the economy.
“We commend this great feat in manufacturing which is wholly Nigerian.
“The Nigerian economy needs this kind of innovation and diversification which has led to job creation in the agricultural sector.”
He lauded the management and urged it to ensure compliance with labour related matters, occupational, health and safety standards and statutory obligations.
The minister was represented by Mrs Olufunke Aleshinloye, General Manager, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods, Mr Eric Umeofia, urged the government to formulate policies that would support local manufacturers.
“We want to warn that until indigenous manufacturers are respected and supported, no meaningful economic diversification will be achieved in this country.
“Nigeria is the biggest importer of tomato paste in the world while over 75 per cent of fresh tomato harvested got wasted in the hands of our farmers yearly.
“This is due to the fact that there was no means of making use of them industrially.
“Seven out of the nine tomato processing factories have closed down and we may soon follow suit and shut down, God forbid, if the government fails to ban the importation of tomato paste.
“What we want is not waiver but a level playing field for all.”
According to him, tomato importers should be compelled to invest in tomato processing in Nigeria to boost development in the agricultural sector and employment opportunities in the country.
Umeofia urged the government to effect the NAFDAC report recommendation of Feb. 10, 2015 that stated that 91.1 per cent of all tomato paste imported and sold in the country were fake and substandard.
“It took European Union (EU) barely a month to take decision and place ban on the importation of some Nigerian food products till 2019. “This is food for thought for our government.”
According to him, his company’s conversion of fresh and dried tomatoes to paste will save the country one billion dollars spent annually on importation and earn foreign exchange for the nation through its export.
“We have a tomato paste processing plant with processing capacity of above 450,000 metric tons per annum, among other product lines.
“We have over 2,052 workers and set to employ over 50,000 youths in two to three years with over five million jobs for farmers indirectly in our Katsina, Jigawa and Sokoto State backward integration projects.
“We target to start production from our Katsina project in the first quarter of 2017 provided that we get support from our good people of Nigeria as nobody will love or build our country for us.”
He appealed to the government to prioritise allocation of foreign exchange to genuine manufacturers to improve productivity in the country.
Mrs Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), commended Erisco Foods, saying that industrialisation is key to economic development, employment and increased revenue generation.
Comrade Issa Aremu, former Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), called for ban on tomato paste importation, adding that the country has achieved self-sufficiency in the production.

Business

Pipeline Explosion In Abua Odua, LGA Chair Calls For Calm

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

Fresh explosions have hit oil and gas pipelines in Odau Community, in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, triggering a major security and environmental crisis that has forced residents to abandon their homes.

The first incident occurred along the Kolo Creek – Rumuekpe crude oil pipelines, operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.

This was followed by a gas pipeline explosion on the Ogboinbiri – Obirikom Gas Pipeline, operated by Oando Plc, in the same week.

In a statement by the Abua/Odual Council Chairman, Hon. Owolobi Michael Ofori said the blasts, suspected to be the handiwork of militants, have unleashed persistent gas leakage in the area, raising fears of fire outbreaks and toxic exposure as residents of Odau have largely deserted the community due to the dangerous situation.

According to him, some residents of the area have been hospitalised after inhaling the leaking gas, adding that the impact has spread to neighbouring communities, including Obedum, Emirikpoko, and Anyu in Abua/Odual LGA, as well as Oruma and Ibelebiri in Bayelsa State.

Hon. Ofori expressed deep concern over the plight of the affected residents and urged the operating companies to act swiftly.

The Council expressed its deepest sympathy to all affected persons and communities and remained gravely concerned about the safety, health, and welfare of residents whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by these incidents.

“We call on Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and Oando Plc to immediately deploy all necessary technical and emergency response resources to contain the fires, halt the gas leakage, secure the affected pipeline corridors, and mitigate further environmental and public health risks.” the Council Chairman Said.

The chairman also appealed to the two oil firms to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and relief materials to the displaced residents while work continues to restore normalcy.

The Council Chairman said he is working closely with security agencies and emergency responders to monitor the situation and coordinate necessary interventions.

The Council Boss advised Residents of the Local Government Area to remain calm, cooperate with authorities, and adhere strictly to safety directives.

Ofori further called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Rivers State Government, and other relevant bodies to intervene urgently to prevent loss of lives and environmental damage.

Hon. Ofori assured that the council remains committed to the protection and welfare of its people and will continue to engage all stakeholders to resolve the crisis.

Enoch Epelle

Business

Fidelity Bank Collaborates YEIDEP To Empower Nigerian Students

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship through a strategic partnership with the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalization Programme (YEIDEP), a Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills, support and opportunities needed to build sustainable livelihoods.

Under the partnership, the bank will support the enrolment of students and young people into the YEIDEP programme, which is designed to tackle youth unemployment, promote enterprise development and expand economic participation among Nigeria’s growing youth population.

The next phase of the initiative is scheduled to end today at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where the enrolment exercise for students and youths across the South-East that started since July 1st would be concluded at the university’s Convocation Arena.

The exercise is expected to reach more than 60,000 regular undergraduate students.

Speaking on the partnership, Fidelity Bank’s Divisional Head, Product Development, Osita Ede, said youth empowerment remains central to the bank’s vision of building a more inclusive and prosperous society.

He noted that Nigeria’s youths represent the country’s greatest asset and stressed that providing them with the right skills, opportunities and financial support is critical to unlocking their potential and driving national development.

According to Ede, the bank continues to provide young Nigerians with tools for success through its digital banking platforms, financial literacy initiatives, youth-focused products and strategic partnerships.

He added that Fidelity Bank recognises that limited access to funding, mentorship and business development support remains a major challenge for many aspiring entrepreneurs, and is committed to creating pathways that will help them overcome these barriers.

The bank said its support for YEIDEP aligns with its longstanding commitment to empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which it described as key drivers of economic growth and job creation in Nigeria.

Interested students and youths have been encouraged to open Fidelity Bank accounts and register for the programme through the bank’s dedicated online portal.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NPA Launches Multi-Agency Taskforce To Combat Apapa Traffic Gridlock

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a multi-agency task force to combat the resurgence of traffic gridlock choking the Lagos Port access roads, in a fresh push to restore seamless cargo evacuation and sustain recent gains in Port efficiency.

The intervention followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23rd, 2026, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate the bottlenecks disrupting cargo movement.

At the meeting, stakeholders identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational distortions as major factors responsible for the renewed congestion along the port corridor.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority’s overriding priority is to guarantee the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to him, the task force comprises the NPA, the Police, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).

“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement on the Port access roads on a regular basis, identify any disruption capable of causing gridlock and immediately resolve such challenges,” Onyemakara said.

He stressed that members of the task force would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance without obstructing traffic.

To enhance rapid response, Onyemakara disclosed that the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report infractions or emerging traffic issues for immediate intervention.

On the long-delayed renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the terms to ensure a more robust contractual framework before awarding a fresh agreement.

He explained that although the previous contract had expired, the ETO platform remains operational under the management of the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending completion of the procurement process.

He expressed confidence that the renewal would be concluded soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing Port access roads, Onyemakara said efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s drive to improve Nigeria’s Port competitiveness and preserve its growing international reputation.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos